THE SPANIELS 323 



dog he can have, inasmuch as he can be made to perform the 

 duties of Pointer, Setter, Retriever, and Spaniel ; but, as his name 

 implies, he is peculiarly fitted by temperament and by a water- 

 resisting coat for the arduous duties required by a sportsman whose 

 proclivities lie in the direction of wildfowl shooting. In this branch 

 of sporting these dogs have no equal, being able to stand any 

 amount of hardship ; this, combined with an indomitable spirit, 

 leads them into deeds of daring from which many dogs would 

 shrink. Many are the feats recorded of their pluck, sagacity, and 

 intelligence. To a well-bred and trained specimen no sea is too 

 rough, no pier too high, and no water too cold even if they have 

 to break the ice at every step they are not daunted, and day after 

 day they will follow up such work, being of the ' cut-and-come- 

 again ' sort. As companions for a lady or a gentleman they have no 

 equal, whilst a well-behaved dog of the breed is worth a whole 

 kennel of toys to the children : he will allow the little ones to pull 

 him about by the ears, will roll over and over with them, fetch their 

 balls as often as thrown for him, and act as their guard in times 

 of danger. 



When I first commenced to keep Irish Water Spaniels, many 

 years ago, there were three strains, or rather varieties. One was 

 known as the Tweed Spaniel, having its origin in the neighbourhood 

 of the river of that name. They were very light liver colour, so 

 close in curl as to give me the idea that they had originally been a 

 cross from a smooth-haired dog ; they were long in tail, ears heavy 

 in flesh and hard like a Hound's, but only slightly feathered ; fore 

 legs feathered behind, hind legs smooth ; head conical ; lips more 

 pendulous than McCarthy's strain. The one I owned, which was 

 considered to be one of the best of them, I bred from twice, and in 

 each litter several of the puppies were liver-and-tan, being tanned 

 from the knees downward, and under the tail. I came to the 

 conclusion that she, at any rate, had been crossed with the Blood- 

 hound. 



In Ireland, too, there exist two totally distinct varieties, which 

 are now known as the North and the McCarthy strains. The 

 former are in appearance like a third-rate specimen of their southern 

 relation, but are generally much smaller, have less feathering on 

 legs, ears, and head, often a feathered tail, and oftener still are 

 inclined to be crooked on their fore legs. The M'Carthy strain are 

 very much more aristocratic-looking animals than either of the afore- 

 mentioned, and are now found in greater perfection on this side the 

 Channel than on their native soil. Captain E. Montresor, the Rev. 

 A. L. Willett, Mr. Robson, and the writer, are the oldest English 

 breeders ; and in later years Mr. Lindoe and the Rev. W. J. Mellor 

 went into the breed for a short time. Mr. Engelbach and Lieut- 

 Colonel Verner should also be classed amongst the older breeders. 



